April 2015 - South Vancouver Island Potters Guild

South Vancouver Island Potters’ Guild meets the 2
April 13, 2015
March’s Meeting –
nd
Monday of the month at 4733 West Saanich Road, Victoria
www.victoriapotters.ca
Volume 16 Issue 8
Armchair Travels with Brendon Burke
Knossos Palace is the legendary site where Theseus fought the
Minotaur, Ariadne saved Theseus with her ball of string, and Daedulus,
creator of the Labyrinth, built doomed Icarus’s wax wings. At March’s
Guild meeting, Brendan Burke, associate professor and chair of Greek
and Roman Studies, connected these legends with the ceramic work of
Crete and Greece during the Bronze Age (3000-1100BC).
Brendon explained that what we know as the labyrinth may well have
been the palace at Knossos, a massive structure with a maze of
interconnecting rooms.
Another source of Bronze age pottery is the Franchthi Caves in
Southern Greece.
Overlooking the Aegean, it has provided archaeologists a wealth of
information. There are many reasons why Franchthi Cave is an
important site; three of them are the length and period of occupation,
the quality of preservation of the seed and bone artifacts, and the fact
that it was excavated in modern times. It has been occupied
continuously for 17 000 years and thus gives us an unparalleled view of
the development of agriculture. Knowledge about the use of the olive,
grapes, sheep and goats also connects to the development and use of
ceramics. Many of the ceramic artifacts were used to handle
agriculturalofproducts.
Evidence
the earliest work is sparse as perhaps only 10 pieces were made per year (see photo below). They were
typically found in burial sites, indicating the importance of the pieces.
A child’s burial might include a small marble dish and clay
pot. Another site included a Neolithic tool kit for pottery
work and a finely repaired bowl of lovely proportions. That
it was included in a woman’s grave seems to point to the
social significance of the pottery.
continued on page 2
Page 2
March’s Meeting continued
Interesting work included ritual object such as male and female fertility effigies, roof tiles, ostraka, and loom weights.
Brendan filled out the description with anecdotes that were informative and often humorous. The ostraka were pot
sherds being repurposed as voting tablets during an ostracism…which might result in exile for 10 years! On Crete,
at Knossos, the “labyrinth” of Minotaur legend actually means “ the place of the double ax”. In the Mycenaean
language labrys is the word for "double axe," a sacred Minoan symbol that appears frequently in the Knossos
palace. Labyrinth, then, may have originally been a name for the palace meaning "House of the Double Axe."
The final series from the historical period of 600 to
400 BC were the black and red figures on large
vessels. Much of what we understand of how these
pieces were developed and the different styles
(hands) came to us from the work of Dr John
Beazley. He specialized in Greek decorated pottery
(particularly black-figure and red-figure), and
became a world authority on the subject. These are
particularly beautiful.
A pottery trip to Crete and Greece seemed like a wonderful idea! Brendan invited us to his “dig” in Eastern Boeotia
and assured us that we would be warmly welcomed, when and if we ever make that trip.
For further information, contact Dr.Burke at:
bburke@uvic.ca
Text: Roger C.
Photos: Nancy W.
Coming in May - Sales: the Public Part of Pottery
A panel of Guild members talks about display, publicity, pricing, and all those
aspects of selling that bedevil us—just in time to prepare for the Guild`s own annual
sale in June.
Submitted by Rosemary N.
Brendan Tang Workshop
– Manga Ormolu
On February 14/15 Brendan Tang gave a workshop at ArtSpring
on Saltspring Island. It was put on by the Saltspring Potters Guild.
Brendan spent the weekend showing how he makes pieces from
his "Manga Ormolu" series. Manga Ormolu are sculptures made of
thrown and altered parts.
They look like traditional blue and white Chinese pots with robotic
parts interacting with them in various ways.
While the pieces are made to look like porcelain, Brendan actually
uses a low fire white (LF06 by Plainsman) and uses commercial
glazes by Duncan (as well as spray paint and other mediums in
the finished state).
He has done extensive research on Chinese blue and white
pottery and received a Canada Council grant to travel to Japan to
research robots!
Photo source: http://www.brendantang.com
Page 3
He works from sketches, which he does to scale and uses directly while sculpting his forms. The photos show
chronologically assembling a form - from throwing to piecing together, stretching the clay from the inside to look like
folds of skin, adding clay, and then final smoothing. Serrated ribs are his favourite tools!
Text & workshop photos: Farro S.
DIG THIS: Exploring BC Clay
On Saturday, March 21 four exceptional ceramic artists from BC met at the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby to work and
create together.
An audience of about 80 was privileged to listen in to conversations between the artists, gleam insights into their
thought process as well as practical considerations.
Each artist demonstrated a variety of techniques, altered and combined forms in novel ways.
Two rooms were set up with two artists –one whose work is more sculptural and one whose work is more functional.
The audience was invited to move freely between rooms to watch the artists make their pieces – the natural
progression of creating a piece from beginning to ready to fire.
The artists were generous answering questions and sharing tips.
And to make it even more exceptional Bob Kingsmill told the story of Axel Ebring, a pioneer potter from Vernon; (go to
http://studioceramicscanada.com/axel-ebring/ for more information).
As many of you already know, Bob is an amazing storyteller! Bob shared his collection of Axel’s work.
A wonderful day, inspiring and informative!
Continued on page 4
Page 4
DIG THIS continued from page 3
Brendan Tang contemplating his next addition
Sarah Lawless demonstrating an unique
way to make a bowl
Kathleen Raven forming the head of human for
one of her whimsical sculptures
Robin Dupont combining two large bowl
forms to make one vessel
Text & workshop photos: Nancy A.
MAKING TIP: Canvas ‘Bats’
Cutting plates off a bat or the wheel can be quite difficult, especially large ones – any attempt to move the piece
usually leads to it bending or breaking a cutting wire or cutting the bottom out of the plate. The net effect is lost
money, lost time, lost something ... (we all know that experience). Joy F. found the following suggestion in Jan/Feb
2015 Pottery Making Illustrated. I think you might find it useful too:
“A piece of canvas cut to a circumference roughly that of your bat or smaller is attached to the bat using a small
amount of well-mixed slip. The plate is then thrown on the canvas. When the plate is finished, I cut between the
canvas and the bat. There is less tension as you cut through and as soon of the plate is firm enough, I flip it over and
remove the canvas.”
BONUS – as Joy suggests, its easier to store a bundle of canvas than a supply of bulky plaster bats.
Original Source: Jan/Feb 2015 Pottery Making Illustrated
Quoted text by Kyla Toomey
From the LIBRARY:
Page 5
This month, four new items were purchased for our library – a DVD and 3 books.




Darted & Decorated: Techniques for Enhancing Form &
Surface, by Jennifer Allen
Contemporary Tableware, Linda by Linda Bloomfield
Cone 5-6 Glazes: Materials & Recipes, from Ceramics Arts Daily
The Pot Book, by Edmund de Waal
The titles above are hyper-linked to provide more details. Once the newsletter is
uploaded to our guild website, you should be able to click on the links
These additions, along with some books donated by Irene Baker in March, are ready for signing out on a ‘firstcome first-served’ basis.
Note that there is no longer a ‘wait-list’ option to borrow library items.
With these additions, we have spent the $250 budgeted through to June 2015.
Library Committee,
Nancy Wall, Belle Leon, Kris Jeffrey
Getting the MOST Out of Your Workshop
Before you go to a workshop, write down what you think you want to learn to improve your work.
Cut out 50 photos of things (nature, food, machines, fabric design, iPhone photos etc.) you like – they can be from a
magazine, from the Internet – just find 50. Now pare it down to ten items.
Being open to what the workshop leader is excited about helps because that might be a whole new area that will be of
new interest to me.
Don’t pay overmuch attention to the workshop leader. These leaders are facilitators paid by you, so drink in what is
useful.
When watching and listening to a workshop leader, keep in mind what you love about clay.
If you are curious about the workshop leader’s background or development of techniques or ideas, be ready to ask
questions.
If taking a hands-on workshop, decide if you want to make small maquettes of everything the workshop leader
demonstrates, or if you prefer to concentrate on only the forms or techniques that interest you.
It can be helpful to think of what you love in clay and how someone else’s techniques would give you more variety in
those aspects of your work.
Take pictures or draw – otherwise you are likely to forget.
If the teacher makes something you don’t like or show images of some work you think is uniquely unsuccessful,
specifically figure out what you think is weak.
Practice critiquing ceramic pieces featured in books and magazine, then take the next step to think of three ways you
would improve the work.
Try just playing with what you have learned, and don’t worry about making finished work.
Excerpt from publication Clay Times by Lana Wilson edited by Meira M.
Page 6
Upcoming Events :
Do you have a show / sale
coming up?
We include notices of upcoming activity
of potential interest to our membership –
free of charge.
Send pdf of poster or email information
to Louise (eartharts@shaw.ca) by noon
on the first Monday of the month for
inclusion.
May deadline is
noon May 4th
Page 7
ADVERTIZING RATES
… is the newsletter for the
Vancouver Island Potters Guild.
South
It is published monthly, September through
June, and is available at meetings and
online at www.victoriapotters.ca
Articles and items of interest to members
are welcome and will be included as space
permits.
Items for inclusion are best emailed to the
editor, Louise, at eartharts@shaw.ca
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS NOON
THE FIRST MONDAY
OF EACH MONTH
The earlier submissions are received, the
more likely there will be room to include
them. Be kind to the editor, please send
items for inclusion before the deadline.
Business card size (2” x 3 ½”):
$10 per issue
or
$75 for 10 issues
Quarter page ad (3 ½” x 4 ¾”)
$20 per issue
or
$150 for 10 issues
Sales announcements, events, classified
ads:
FREE
contact the At a Glance editor at:
eartarts@shaw.ca
Your 2014-2015 Executive
654 Burnside Road W.
Victoria BC V8Z 1M8
250 384-3831
vcart@shaw.ca
Here is a list of my favorite pottery tools, glazes
and things. Dan
All available at Victoria Clay Art
Mud Tool Ribs
Amaco PC-20 Blue Rutile [cone 6 ]
Alphabet Stamp Set
2" Goat Hair Fan Brush
Magic Water
Stroke & Coat SC-74 Hot Tomale [cone 08-10]
MKM Finger Rollers
Xiem Teliscoping Sponge on a Stick
Mud Tool Blue Sponge
Amaco Velvet Underglaze V-361 Jet Black
Aardvark Cone 5 BEE-Mix
Mud Tool Clay Cutting Wire [green handle]
MKM Wood Stamps
Paper Clay cone 06, 6, or 10
Come in and look around, we’re open
10:00am to 5:00pm Mon-Sat
President:
Muriel S.
250.652.5434
Vice-Pres:
Pam T-W
1.250.474.5434
Secretary:
Derek K.
250.995.2905
Treasurer:
Linda V.
250.479.5966
Archivist:
Dawn K.
250.896.4373
Coffee:
Monika B.
778.351.3988
Katia C.
250.472.8225
Hillary G.
778.425.4228
Library:
Nancy W.
250.479.3524
Kris J.
250.384.5344
Belle Leon
250.382.1326
Membership: Betty B.
250.382.0974
Newsletter
Louise P.
250.655.3811
Program Coordinators:
Rosemary N. 250.477.7032
Muriel S.
250.652.5434
Raffle:
Ester G.
250.658.4523
Tobias T.
250.383.3893
Webmaster:
Deb.C
250.664.6805
Page 8
... When you shop – please
mention to our advertisers that
you learned about them in the
Guild Newsletter.
Vancouver Island
Potters Supply
Your top source for pottery supplies on Vancouver Island
Now 4 convenient ways to shop!
In person Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm
By phone 250-248-2314
Email vipsclay@hotmail.com
Fax 250-248-2318
Visit our website at:
www.vipotterysupply.com
#2 1009 Herring Gull Way
Parksville, BC, V9P 2N1
Open Monday to Friday
9 am – 4 pm
REMEMBER – among others, 2 great benefits
to being in the South Vancouver Island Potters
Guild are:
1) the library
2) access to the BC Potter’s Guild
newsletter online. Betty B. sends us
the username and password each
month.
So … check them out! They’re worth using!
Our Library welcomes your
suggestions –
Contact Nancy W.
nwall2009@gmail.com
Page 9
…and something to THINK ABOUT
Here is a lesson for all of you that take Ceramics Monthly.
Open this month’s magazine and turn the pages rather quickly.
See what you see. Don't read anything..turn the pages.
Page after page of images of glaze samples, pots with commercial
glazes and more glazes for sale. Color charts like a paint store.
Pretty colors..lots of pretty colors.
Then ask your local supplier of ceramics…`What sells?`
Then look at the shelves of commercial glazes, see the price tags.
In some cases, a room of shelves with commercial glazes...pretty glazes.
You can even get Tom Coleman's shino...in a jar.
Then ask.
How many lbs. of feldspar have you sold this month?
You would be startled. `We don't sell very much glaze materials
any longer...people like it ready made.`
What used to be a train car of materials, is now a half pallet.
If you don't believe me, ask and educate yourself. In fact, ask at
NCECA…{the vendors} are all there.
I won't bother, I already have. And, I don't blame the vendor, they
sell what sells..I sure would.
Ready made de/aired clay.
Ready made perfect glaze.
Ready made tools that make decoration.
Ready made kiln that will turn itself on and off. You can even check
the kiln at your movie house or bar from your iphone.
As I ask `What does one bring to the party?`
Was Dylan correct?
Is it true that:
“ The times they are a
changing” ?
If so, is change a good
thing?
Write me with your
response
eartharts@shaw.ca
Editor
I am working on a new `mother in law blue`...it sells like crazy.
And, I mean it.
Mel, the blue huckster.
A metaphoric joke…I can make a 25 gallon tub of glaze for about
30 bucks. 25 gallons of ready made glaze would cost $2,841.52.
HEY, I'M JUST SAY'N.
from: minnetonka, mn
Submitted by Betty B. Originally from ClayArt’s moderator, Mel Jacobson
website:http://www.melpots.com
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
http://www.melpots.com/clayart.html
Are we loosing skills?
or
Are we changing
skillsets ?
Write me with your
response
eartharts@shaw.ca
Editor
“ Recently, I’ve been thinking about the basic skills that are handed
down from generation to generation and I wonder if our domestic skills
are getting lost as we become a more consumer-based and serviceoriented culture. It also wasn’t that long ago that most people had the
skills to tackle any project that they want to do, whether it was simple
sewing repairs, ironing, canning, or fixing leaky pipes – truth be told,
I’ve never really learned to iron or make jam. It used to be that if you
had a project you didn’t know how to do, there was almost certainly
someone that was either family or a friend who you could turn to to
learn the skills you needed. Back then, collective wisdom counted for
a lot.
Continued on page 10
Page 10 ‘Lost Skills?’ Continued from page 9
….
I have always felt potters and crafts people alike …. are more than just consumers, we are also producers of both
objects and meaning. Our act of making requires a set of skills strung together to produce meaningful objects.
….
While I may not have a well-pressed shirt or any delicious preserves from this year’s harvest, I now know how to use
a canvas bat and make my own Japanese cut off tool. Potters do have their priorities after all.”
Submitted by Joy F. Originally from Holly Goring, Editor of
Pottery Making Illustrated Volume 18 Number1